Camphill Road Post Box is Reopened by Royal Mail

Damaged Wall and 'closed' post box December 2013

Royal Mail have recently reversed their decision to permanently suspend collections from a Broughty Ferry post box. The post box in question is built into the stone wall at the junction of Camphill and Bughties Roads.

This week a constituent has written to let me know they are now able to use this post box again. My constituent wrote:

"I am writing to thank you all (all Four Ferry Councillors) for the help you have given in recovering the post box. I shall test it out today by sending a letter to friends and relatives in England. it was really good to see the Royal Mail responding to local pressure. Neighbours are delighted."

In December, I publicised residents' concerns about delays to the restoration of the stone wall in which the the post box was mounted and the temporary suspension of collections from this post box. The photograph, shows the wall damaged by a car colliding with it and the safety fencing preventing collections from the post box set in the wall. This accident, I think, provided the pretext for Royal Mail trying to permanently withdraw collections from the box.

I am pleased to have played my part in restoring the postal service by corresponding with Managment at a Royal Mail and submitting Freedom of Information requests to uncover whom they had consulted in the City Council and with what response. It seems in retrospect that the case to justify permanent closure of this postal box was flimsy. I am pleased that decision has been overturned.

Royal Mail Post Box On Camphill Road Corner Closed

At the December meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council, I reported residents' concerns about a damaged stone wall at the junction of Camphill Road and Bughties Road. Holes and cracks in the stone work had been apparently caused by a car crashing into it. The Conservation Officer of the Council had confirmed that the owners of the property were pursuing an insurance claim and repairs to the wall would be forthcoming.

At the same location, right on the corner of these two roads, there is a Royal Mail Post Box. It currently remains difficult to access behind some temporary barriers keeping the public away from the falling masonry. Now residents have noticed that the box has had its letter slot covered. It is rumoured that this is not just a temporary measure. 

Two resident's approached me concerned that a temporary suspension of collections by Royal Mail might turn into a long term closure of this letter box. They pointed out out that there are a significant number of older people in the area and that it is a much longer walk to the next nearest letters boxes in the wider area.

I have written to Royal Mail to request reassurance that this is merely a temporary suspension of collections until the wall is repaired and the public can access to this letter box again.